A new season is upon us! And with football comes TCR's weekly Big Ten Power Rankings, amongst other exciting content we'll be releasing prior to the Murray State game (5 days away!). While Lovie Smith has been our favorite offseason topic, the rest of the conference didn't stay quiet by any means.
Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines made headlines seemingly every week, and new coaches DJ Durkin (Maryland) and Chris Ash (Rutgers) settled in and started recruiting their heads off. A notable absentee from the offseason banter was Ohio State, however they've reloaded yet again and are poised to make another run at a Big Ten title.
But enough talk! Here's how our staff ranked the 14 teams ahead of Week 1.
Week 1 Big Ten Football Power Rankings
1
Ohio State Buckeyes
|
| Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
| 2 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1.38 |
2
Michigan Wolverines
2015 RECORD: 10-3 (6-2)
SBN Blog: Maize n Brew
Next Game: Hawaii (0-1)
| Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
| 1 | 3 | - | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1.75 |
3
Michigan State Spartans
2015 RECORD: 12-2 (7-1)
SBN Blog: The Only Colors
Next Game: Furman (0-0)
| Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
| 3 | 2 | - | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2.88 |
4
Iowa Hawkeyes
| Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
| 4 | 4 | - | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4.38 |
5
Wisconsin Badgers
2015 RECORD: 10-3 (6-2)
SBN Blog: Bucky's 5th Quarter
Next Game: No. 5 LSU (0-0)
| Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
| 5 | 5 | - | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 5.38 |
6
Northwestern Wildcats
2015 RECORD: 10-3 (6-2)
SBN Blog: Inside NU
Next Game: Western Michigan (0-0)
| Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
| 6 | 8 | - | 7 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | - | 6.38 |
7
Penn State Nittany Lions
2015 RECORD: 7-6 (4-4)
SBN Blog: Black Shoe Diaries
Next Game: Kent State (0-0)
| Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
| 8 | 7 | - | 8 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 7.13 |
8
Nebraska Cornhuskers
2015 RECORD: 6-7 (3-5)
SBN Blog: Corn Nation
Next Week: Fresno State (0-0)
| Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
| 7 | 6 | - | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 7.25 |
9
Indiana Hoosiers
2015 RECORD: 6-7 (2-6)
SBN Blog: The Crimson Quarry
Next Game: Florida International
| Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
| 9 | 9 | - | 9 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 9.50 |
10
Illinois Fighting Illini
2015 RECORD: 5-7 (2-6)
SBN Blog: The Champaign Room
Next Game: Murray State (0-0)
| Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
| 11 | 11 | - | 11 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9.75 |
T-11
Maryland Terrapins
2015 RECORD: 3-9 (1-7)
SBN Blog: Testudo Times
Next Game: Howard (0-0)
| Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
| 12 | 13 | - | 12 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 11.25 |
T-11
Minnesota Golden Gophers
2015 RECORD: 6-7 (2-6)
SBN Blog: The Daily Gopher
Next Game: Oregon State
| Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
| 10 | 10 | - | 10 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11.25 |
13
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
2015 RECORD: 4-8 (1-7)
SBN Blog: On The Banks
Next Game: @ Washington (0-0)
| Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
| 13 | 12 | - | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12.88 |
14
Purdue Boilermakers
2015 RECORD: 2-10 (1-7)
SBN Blog: Hammer & Rails
Next Game: E. Kentucky (0-0)
| Vainisi | Primiano | Sill | Bourbon | Vallese | Smith | Jabs | Repplinger | Fishel | AVERAGE |
| 14 | 14 | - | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13.88 |